Weighing scale



Aug.13,'1963 Rc-.CARRQLL' l3,100,720

www@@uw f Y F. C. CARROLL WEIGHING SCALE Aug. 13, 1963 4 Sheets-Shes?I 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1961 INVEN TOR.

FREDERICK C. CARROLL 0 ATTORNEYS F. C. CARROLL WEIGHING SCALE Aug. 13, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OGL. 4, 1961 m. T. m w

FREDERICK C. CARROLL ,mgfm

ATTORNEYS All@ 13, 19513 F. c. CARROLL 3,100,720

WEIGHING SCALE Filed Oct. 4. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 42 Y lll-Jlll IX INVENToR. 1g FREDERlcK c.,cARRo|.|

724ML@ dan c@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent() 3,100,720 WElGHlNG SCALE Frederick C. Carroll, Toledo, hio, assignor to Toledo Scale Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of hio Filed Get. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 142,844

` 6 Claims. (Cl. 177 --37) This invention 'relates to weighing scales and more particularly to Weighing scales incorporating charts which can be readily replaced by others without destroying the seals of the scales.

One of the major items in the Post Office `Department -speciiications -for parcel post weighing scales is the requirement that the postal rate charts be replaceable quickly in the event of :rate changes. The specifications require that ya postal employee unskilled .in scale mechan-ics shall be able to substitute one rate chart vfor yanother in .a weighing scale in one hou-r or less and that such scale will then weigh correctly, at least .after minor zero corrections. f

No prior 'weighing scale is known having a chant which can :be readily replaced by another ywithout destroying the seal of the scale.

The objects of this invention are to improve weighing scales, to facilitate the replacement of charts in such scales, to provide for the replacements of chartsl in such scales without destroying the seals of such scales, to facilitate the replacement of charts in su-ch scales and at the same time provide for retaining the seals of such scales, to simplify the construction of such scales, to facilitate the mechanical Iadjustment of such scales .and .to provide an improved parcel post cylinder scale.

One embodiment of this invention enabling the realizar tion of'these objects is a cylinder Weighing scale having two charts in contrast to the usual single chart, ie., a weight chart which remains in the scale `and against which the scale is sealed and a readily replaceable rate chart, i.e., a chart for indicating postalcharges in various zones, which can be `replaced by a postal employee unskilledin lscale mechanics because its replacement does not destroy the seal of the scale.

In accordance with the above, one feature o-f this inventionjre'sides in so mounting the rate chart in lthesCaIe that it can be readily replaced by .another in the event of rate changes. The substituted rate chart is readily positioned in the scaleso that the scale will then wei-gh correctly, -at leastafterminor zero corrections. `A man unskilled in scale mechanics can .replace they ratechart with -another in thirty minutes. The weight chant, sealing yadjustment is peculiar to leach scale, the scale being sealed .in at the factory in. the usual way. Since the weight chart is never removed, the scale stays sealed in. The rate chart bal-ance adjustment ispeculiar to each rate chart, the rate charts being balanced relative to their taxes of rotation ,at `the factory and supplied to the field for replacement attr-andern in the two-chant scales.

The above .and other objects and features of this invention will be :appreciated more -fully lfrom the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

tFlG. I is yan elevational view of aweighing scale showing par-ts of cylindrical weight and postal rate charts behind .a window; j l y j FIG. `Il is a fragmentary, enlarged view of the weighing scale` shown in FIG. I, part. of the housin-g being broken -away to reveal interior mechanismincluding the cylindrical weight and postal ratey chartsV illustrated in FIG.V ll; j v FIG. III is a detailed view of the cylindrical weight chart shown in FIG. Il, part of the surface of the chart being broken away to Yreveal interior structure;

Fice

FIG. lV is .a detailed View of the cylindrical postal rate chart shown in FIG. Il, part of the surface of the chart being broken yaway to reveal interior structure;

IFIG. V .is `an elevational view of the postal rate chart as seen looking toward the lett end of the chart Ias illustrated in FIG. IV;

FIG. VI is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the mounting means for the postal rate chart shown in FIG. IV; t

FIG. VII is -a horizontal sectional view taken `along the line Vil- Vil in tFIG. II;

FIG. VIII is tan end elevational view of a rnodied mounting means lfor the postal rate chart corresponding to a view as seenv looking toward the right end of the mounting means illustrated in fFIG. VI; .a-nd v FIG. 1X is a horizontal section-al view taken Aalong the line lX--IX of FIG. VIII.

Referring to the drawings, a parcel post weighing scale 1 vincludes a housing 2 supported on feet 3 and defining a window opening 4 closed by a magnifying lens 5 through which rotatable cylindrical weight and postal rate charts 6 and '7 are viewed. Charts 6 and 7 are rotatable `about a common `axis Ias one. Articles to be weighed are placed upon a platter S operatively connected to the weighing mechanism shown in FIG. II. The scale 1 functions like any ordinary parcel post cylinder scale, i.e., the Weight of an article placed upon the platter 8 is indicated by a stationary reading line 9 stretched adjacent the rotatable weight chart 6 and the amount of postage needed to mail the article is indicated by a stationary reading line lil stretched adjacent the rotatable rate chart 7. The rate chart 7, which is a computing chart that computes the dollars and cents amount of the postage needed to mail an article in accordance with the weight of the article and the mailing zone, is provided with eight columns identified by indicia V11 underneath the window opening 4 as Local, Zone l and 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zon-e 6, Zone 7 and Zone 8, each columnV being divided into squares 12 each containing a black and a red figure (figures not shown). The black figures are for surface mail and the red tigures are for air mail. article to Ibe mailed is placed upon the platter `8 and one of the eight mailing Zone columns 11 is selected. The weight of the article is indicated on the w-eight chart 6 at reading line @and the amount of postage needed to mail the article is indicate-d yon the rate chart 7 in the selected zone column -11 at the reading line 10, t-he black or the red tigure in the chart square 12 at the reading line 1li being read depending on whether the surface or air mail rate is desired. The weighing scale insofar as it has been described is like any `ordinary parcel post cylinder scale except it bastwo charts 6 and 7 in contrast to the usual single chart having separate weight and rate sections. Y

The force of gravity acting on a load placed upon the platte-r3 is transmitted to a lever 121i (FG. Il) fulcrumed on ball bearings in the base of the Weighing scale. A lever similar to the lever 13 lis shown 'and described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 2,895,726 entitled Ball Bearing Scale rPivots, and issued to L. S. Williamson JulyZl, 1959. Also, lan operative interconnection for the platter 8 and lever 13 is shown in such patent together with mechanism needed for an operable weighing scale. .These load forces acting on .the lever 11iv are transmitted to a load counterbalancing spning 14. The upper end of the spring 14 is connected through a clamp 1'5 to a threaded rod 16, the threaded rod 16 extending through an oversize hole in the clamp 15 and secu-red therein by means of a nut 17 (only one shown) one on either side of the clamp 15. When the nuts 17 are loosened, the clamp 15 and, thus, the upper end of the sp'ring `1d can be shifted to the right or the Patented ugi 13, 1963 Y In operation, an V Y carriedby la boss 46 left Yas viewed in FIGYII providing a one-half capacity sealing adjustment. The clamp is shown and described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 618,050, filed October 24, 1956, now Patent No. 3,009,- 523, in thename off-L. S. Williams. The lower end of the spring 14 is connected through a clamp 18, which is like the upper clamp 15, to the end of the lever 13, the clamp 18 being connected to the lever'13 by means of a bolt 19, extending through the lever and 'an oversize hole in the clamp 18, and a nu-t 20. When the nut Ztl is loosened, the clamp 118 and, thus, the lower end of the spring 14 can be shifted to lthe right or the left as .viewed in FIG. Il providing a span (zero to full) capacity sealing adjustment.

The upper vend of the rod 16 is attached to a tr-unnion 21, having horizontally extending pins 22, only one of which is shown, which rest in V-shaped bearing surfaces of a bifurcated portion 123i of a bell crank 24, the rod 16 being -rockable about the axes off the pins 22. The bell .crank 24 is roc-kable about the axes of cone pointed screws 25vvhich1are threaded through the flat spaced sides 26 of a pilla-r 27 having spaced feet Z'Bresting and secured to the scale base anddefinin'g an opening "29 in its face through whichlthe bifurcated bell crank portion 2.3` extends, the screws `25 engaging conical depressions in the bell crankV and being held against turning by lock nuts Stil which are so adjustedV that the bell crank is free to rock yet is mounted with a minimum of play. The bell crank 24 is rocked' by turning an adjustment screw 31; threaded Vthrough a Iboss 32 on the pillar 27 to move the screw toward or away from 1an upper arm 33" of the bell crank. Force provided by the spring 14 always urges the upper bell crank arm 33 against the end of the adjustment screw 311-- and the pins 22 against the bearing surfaces of the bifurcated bell crank portion 23. Rocking of the bell crank Z4 by the turning'o-f theV adjustment screw 31 lowers or lifts the spring 14 providing a zero scale adjustment.

'Ihe extension of the spring 14, which is proportional to the load on the scale, permits thel spring supported end of the lever 13 to drop a distance proportional to the load and this movement is transmitted through a rack 3d and pinion 35 to rotate the cylindrical weight and rate charts 6 and 7 through equal increments of angle for equal incre-v ments of load upon thescale The rack 34 is kept in engagement with the pinion 35 by means of aA guide roller (notzshown) and the lower end of the rack is operatively connected for rocking about two axes to the lever 13 by means of the mechanism shown in FIGS; II and VII. V'lhe' lower end of the rack 34 is pivotable about two axes that are perpendicular to each other. This compensates for arcuate and'lateral movements of ther lever so that the rack and the pinion do notwbind. The pivotable connection for.r the rack'34 includes a yoke 36 rigidly attached to an integral. extension 37 of the lever 13 and a rectangular frame 384 pivotally connected to the yoke by means of cone-pointed screws 39 provided with lock nuts 40 for. holding them in adjusted positions. The axes of the screws 39 are parallel to the fulcrum axis of the lever 13. The rack 34-is provided with an extension 41 which is pivotally connected to the frame 38 by means of cone-pointed screws 42 provided with lock n-uts 43 for holding them in adjusted positions. The axes of the cone-pointed screws 39 are perpendicular to the axes of the cone-pointed screws 412. Hence, the rack 34 is pivotable about two axes that are perpendicular to yeach other.

The weight and rate charts 6 and 7 and the pinion 35 are mounted on a shaft flfijoumaled in V:ball bearings 45' on the pillar 27 and in ball bearings 47 atop a post 48` erected from the scale base, ythe .left hand end of the shaft 4e as viewed in FIG. II extending from the bearings 47 in cantilever fashion.

The pinion 3'5 is pinned by a pin 49 (FIG. III) to the shaft 44. The weight chart 6 is located on the shaft 44 closely adjacent the pinion 351 and it includes a pair of spiders 50, which yfrom the end lool( like the rate chart as shown in P lG, V hereinafter described, having hubs 51 indicia. In contrast, the chart 6 only bears weightindicia including a .zero line 56.

The weighing scale is sealed in against the weight chart 6 in the usual way. The Weight chart 6 is never removed from the scale.

its seal. The scale is sealed .in by placingvariouscapacity weights on the platter tl Vand making corresponding trial Y and error adjustments until the scale weighs correctly at` zero, lirst quarter, one-half, third quarter, and full capacities. VThe zero capacity adjustment is made by turni-ng 31 las above described. The span ther adjustment screw capacity adjustment (zero to fu1l) is made by. shifting the lower end of the spring 14 tothe right yor the left as viewed in FIG. Il as above described. The half-capacity adjustment need not be made if the spring 14 is linear; if itis not, thehalf capacity adjustment is made by shift.- ing the upper end of the spring 14 to the right or the left yas viewed in FIG. II as `above described. The quarters (rst and.` third) capacity .adjustment'is made by shifting weights carried by one .of the spiders 50 of the. weight Vchart 6. These weights 'are not shown, but identical weights are shown in FIG. V and with therate chart 7. The. above sealing adjustments are conventional. Every weighing scale must be sealed in in one way or another. However, it is importantin connection with the Weighing scale 1 .that the weight chart 6 provides ameans against which the scale is sealedin which means is never removed from the scale. Accordingly, the rate chart 7 can Ibe. replaced by another in the event of postal rate changes without destroying .the seal,A

and also is pro-vided with a zero having an'extension 66 (FIG. VI) `washer 63'and` the spider 5,7 and 'abutting lagainst an end ofthe axle spider 57 by means of the above end of the collet 65 is tapered and provided withtwo slots 67 at right angles to each threaded Ifor the reception of anut 68. An 4opening 69 line 64. A collet 65,

into the hubV 58 and extends through the collet 65 'axially` aligned with the' axis of the tube axle 6l) `andreceives the free end of the' shaft dllyas shown in FIG. II, partially into `the ltube axle 6i). The nut 68 has an interior portion shaped to engage the tapered end of the collet 65'as shownin FIG. .VI and i end is compressed and firmly grasps the shaft mounts the weight and the rate alignment on the shaft 44 for movement together as one.

The rate chart 7 is balanced at the factory and supplied to the field for replacement at random inthe two-chart scales. Balance, i.e., balance of the chart relative to its axis of rotation, is accomplished by m-eans of four weights 70 which are slidable at slots in the right hand spider 57` as lviewed in FIG. 1V. The slots are not shown, butV identical slots 71 are shown in the spider 5'7 shown in` Accordingly, the weighing scale retainsV will be described. structurally and functionally hereinafter in connection.

63; The spiders 57 and the skin 7 is provided with eight col-rV umns each divided into squares 12 and each of the squares',V 12 contains a black Iand a red postage figure (not shown),l

extending: through theV 6tlg, isattached to the." screws 62. The free 'other 'and isfpartially.A l

the shaft 44 extending is turned on the threaded portion of theA collet until the tapered and slotted collet' charts 6 tand 7 in axial FIG. V. The Weights '7d also function as nuts which receive screws 72 that extend through and are slidable in the lslots vand which hold the weights 7 ti in their adjusted positions, i.e., the positions found by Atrial and error in which the rate chart 7 is balanced. Cylindrical charts normally have such slots 7l and weights 70 for making the quarters capacity sealing adjustment. The quarters capacity `sealing adjustment is made .in the Weighing scale I yas hereinbefore described by shifting Weights at slots in one of the spiders Si) of the weight chart 6 which weights and slots are not shown but which are identical to the weight 70v and slots 71, respectively.

The weight chart sealing adjustment is peculiar to each scale, the weight chart 6 never being removed from the scale so that the scale stays sealed in. The rate chart balance adjustment is peculiar to each rate chart, each chart being individually balanced. One feature of the Weighing scale I resides in so mounting the rate chmt 6 in the scale that it can be readily replaced by another in the event of postal rate changes without destroying theV seal .of the scale. To replace the rate chart 7 with another, the collet nut 68 is loosened allowing the slotted and tapered end of the collet 65 to expand permitting the rate chart 7 to be withdrawn from the free end of the shaft 44. Another rate chart 7, which is supplied balanced, is provided with the collet nut 6d loosely threaded on the collet 65' and is slid onto the free end of the shaft 44 and the collet nut 6% is tightened securely after the rate chart is properly positioned in the scale. vProper positioning merely involves sliding the rate chart 7 sideways on the shaft 44 until the ycolumns of indicia on the chart coincide with :the proper zone indicia Il underneath the window opening 4 and rotating the rate chart 7 on the shaft 44 until the rate chart zero line 64 coincides with the reading line liti-the weightchart zero line 5o must also coincide `with the reading line 9, ie., the zero lines on the two charts must be aligned. Hence, the substituted rate chart is readily mounted and positioned in the scale. After substituting one balanced rate chart 7 for another, the Scale weighs correctly, at least after a minor zero correction made by turning the adjustment screw 3i.

The weight and rate charts 6 and 7 must be mounted in axial alignment on the shaft '44. However, it is possible that through some manufacturing enror the charts are `not -square after both are mounted on the shaft 44. A modified mounting means for the postal rate chart 7 is shown in FIGS. VIII and IX which is so adjustable that the rate chart 7 can be made square with the weight'chart 6. Reference numbers in FIGS. VIII and XI which are similar to numbers in FIGS. LVII refer to parts alike in .structure and in function.

A hub l58a is pinned to an axle 60a by means of a pin 59a and lis attached to a spider 57e by means of screws 73,

a washer 63a separating the heads of the screws -73 from the spider 57m. A collet '65a is attached to the spider 57a and hub '53a by means of three screws 74 Iwhich extend through the collet 65a, washer 63a, spider 57a andare i received in threaded holes in the hub 58a. Thrce'screws 75 extend through threaded holes inthe collet 65a, extend through holes in the Washer 63a and spider 57a, and bear against the bub- 53a. The screws 74 and 75 form pull l and push connections, respectively. After the collet 65a is connected to .the shaft 44 l(FIG. II) by tightening a collet nut 68m, the rate chart is made square with the weight chart by trial and terror adjustment of the pull and l Y push screws '714 and 75 the adjustment of whichshi-fts'the axis of the rate chart relative to the axis of the shaft 44.

It is not intended that this invention be restricted Ato cylinder weighing scales. rIlhe generic idea of having two charts in contrast to the usual single chart, ie., a weight chart which remains in the scale land against which the scale -is sealed and a readily replaceable rate chart which canbe replaced by a postal employee unskilled in scale mechanics because its replacement does not destroy the seal of the scale, may be embodied in a vfau scale wherein such weight and rate charts are stationarily mounted and the indicia thereon are pointed out by la movable loadresponsive indicator hand. It is to be understood that the above description is illustrative of this invention and that various modifications thereof can be utilized without departing from its spirit and scope.

yI-Iaving described the invention, I claim:

1. A weighing scale comprising, in combination, load measuring means, indicating means having a portion operatively connected to the load measuring means, the `indicating means including a first part for indicating load measured by the load measuring means and a second part, separable from the rst part and readily replaceablel in the scale, for indicating values computed in accordance with load measured by the load measuring means and predetermined factors, and means for so adjusting the scale relative to said first part that the scale weighs correctly.

2. A weighing scale comprising, in combination, load measuring means, load and postal rate indicating means having a portion operatively connected to the load measuring means, the load and postal rate indicating means including a vfirst part for indicating load measured by the and means for so adjusting .the scale relative to said rst part that the scale weighs correctly. l

3. A cylinder weighing scale comprising, in combinati'on, load measuring means, rotatably mounted weight and postal rate cylindrical charts, means for so operatively connecting the charts to the load measuring means that the charts are rotated through equal increments of angle for equal increments of iload upon the scale, the weight Vchart indicating load measured by the load measuring means and the rate chart, which is separable from the weight chart and readily replaceable in the scale, indicating postal charges for such load in various zones, and means for so adjusting the scale relative to the weight chart that the scale weighs correctly.

4. A cylinder weighing scale comprising, in combination, load measuring means, a rotatably mounted shaft having a cantilever end, means for so operatively connecting the shaft to the 'load measuring means lthat the shaft is rotated through equal increments of angle for equal increments of load upon the scale, a cylindrical weight char-t mounted on the shaft to remain in the scale for indicating load measured by the load measuring means, and a cylindrical postal rate chart mounted on the cantilever shaft end for quick removal from the scale to indicate postal charges for such load in various zones.

5. A cylinder weighing scale comprising, in combination, ioad measuring means, a rotatably mounted shaft having a cantilever end, means for so. operatively connecting the shaft to the load measuring means that the shaft is rotated through equal increments of angle for equal increments of load upon the scale, a cylindrical weight chart mounted on the shaft to remain in the scale for indica-ting load measured by the load measuring means, a cylindrical postal rate chart, and means including a collet attached to the postal rate chart for mounting-the postal rate chart on .the cantilever shaft end to indicate postal charges for such load in various zones.

6. A cylinder weighing scale comprising, in combination, load measuring means, a rotatably mounted shaft having a cantilever end, means for so operatively connecting the shaft to the load measuring means that the shaft is rotated through equal increments of an-glefor equal increments of Aload upon the scale, aA cylindrical chart, and means for mounting the chart on the cantilever shaft end.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A WEIGHING SCALE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, LOAD MEASURING MEANS, INDICATING MEANS HAVING A PORTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LOAD MEASURING MEANS, THE INDICATING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST PART FOR INDICATING LOAD MEASURED BY THE LOAD MEASURING MEANS AND A SECOND PART, SEPARABLE FROM THE FIRST PART AND READILY REPLACEABLE IN THE SCALE, FOR INDICATING VALUES COMPUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOAD MEASURED BY THE LOAD MEASURING MEANS AND PREDETERMINED FACTORS, AND MEANS FOR SO ADJUSTING THE SCALE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST PART THAT THE SCALE WEIGHS CORRECTLY. 